The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-22
OPPORTUNITIES.
Chances That Arc offered to Most People
to Bet err Their Condition.

Chances That Arc offered to Most People
to Bet err their Condition.
One of the many things desired by
the young is an opportunity, some open
ing, a chance. A thoughtful, prudent
mind will ever be on the lookout for
these opportunities, and if the tide be
taken at the flood it may lead on to
fortune. A cry which is often heard is:
We have no opportunity; the opening
of which you speak is not presented to
us; we can not do the things we would;
our sphere is narrow. confined, limited;
our spirit frets and chafes, and wears
itself out by beating against the bars
of our prison-house" Now, while it
is undoubtedly true that there are those
who could do great things if the oppor-
tunity were offered them (although
even they might profitably read the
motto on the old scala seal represent
ing pickax uplifted ready to strike
EITHER | will find way or make
one'O; on the other hand, it is equally
true that many who have these oppor-
tuuities fail to take advantage of them.
There are few who can not recall in
stances, perhaps among their immediate
acquaintances of persons who have had
an opening, such as we have been de-
scribing. who have had every prospect
of getting on, and yet they have not sue
ceeded. 1t may be they lacked principle.
or tirmness, or perseverance,; it may be
that-as we sometimes say-they had
no ballast; they were shifty, unstable,
Eighty, and you could not get them to
settle down, rs their fathers did, to real
hard work, but, whatever the cause,
they made no progress; they did not
use the means placed within their reach,
and this neglect is followed by the in
evitable consequences. 1t depends very
much upon ourselves whether we make
our life splendid success or a 11isera-
Bile failure
Life is full of grand possibilities; nor
must we confine our view to this linn
tied sphere. It is here upon earth that
our characters are being formed; it is
here that we are silently shaping our
destiny. You have, perhaps, stood and
watched workman molding some
thing with his hands. You observe
how he. very skillfully, very patiently,
and ''little by little" fashions out of
the rough mass before him an article
perfect in beauty of form and delicacy
of finish; and this, or the reverse, is
what we are daily doing with ourselves.
Our own characters, for good or for
evil, are very much what we make
them. Day by day we are deepening
or effacing the lines already traced
every event of our lives is quietly
noiselessly helping to mold and fashion
us.
But let us turn tor q moment to the
lighter aspect of the subject before US.
How often do we hear the expression,
NEGLECTED opportunities" Like most
pregnant phrases, these words, by the
wonderful association of ideas, remind
different individuals of different circum-
stances. The orator thinks of the skill
full turn he might have given to the
question put to him during a debate;
but the opportunity passed by. The
surgeon thinks of the patient upon
whom an operation might have been
successful; but he hesitated, doubted,
perhaps mistrusted his own power, and
went on waiting until it was "too late. ="
The barrister remembers cases which
would have been won for his client but
some of the most important testimony
was not forthcoming when wanted.
The merchant is reminded of the specu-
lation which proved disastrous because
the time when he embarked in it was
not opportune. Opportunities present
themselves daily if we will only watch
for them; but many permit them to
pass away because they lack that de-
cision of character and promptitude of
action which are essential to success
or if they do act it is too late.-LOndon
NelCS